Painless Ways to Save Money on Your Utility Bills
You can find extra money for your emergency fund or debt snowball by implementing these tips to save money on your utility bills. Small changes to your daily habits and routines can yield significant savings in the long run.
Some of the suggestions here may seem like no-brainers, but you will be surprised at how many people know they should be doing these things, but don’t. They are wasting money month after month.
If you apply these strategies, you will begin to see your utility bills decline almost immediately, and it will motivate you to find more ways to save.
Steps to Save Money on Your Utility Bills
- Replace your existing bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs. They use 75% less energy and will last 10 times longer. When we changed our recessed lights, lamps, chandeliers, and bathroom mirror lights to the energy-efficient ones, we saw an immediate reduction in our electric bill.
- Install a programmable thermostat (very easy to do!). A programmable thermostat will allow you to save energy by adjusting the temperature when you are not home and when you are sleeping at night. They are inexpensive and will pay for themselves almost immediately.
- Close the vents in the rooms you are not using. There is no sense in heating and cooling rooms you are not using. Closing the vents will allow the extra air or heat to flow into the rooms you need the most.
- Check for drafts around your windows and doors. If you find drafts, seal them with caulk or weather-stripping. Doing so will stop the heat from seeping out and keep the cold air from slipping in.
- Take shorter showers and install a “low flow” showerhead, which will decrease the amount of water coming out of the showerhead.
- Change air filters monthly. These are reusable air filters, so you don’t have to keep purchasing new ones.
- Turn off the TV and computers when not in use. Depending on the model of your TV, it can use a great deal of energy when left on. Change the settings on your computer so it will go to “sleep” when you are not using it.
- Turn off the cable box when you turn off the TV. Most people only turn off the TV, but you can save extra energy if you turn off your cable box as well.
- Only run the dishwasher and washing machines when they are full. If your machine allows you to change how much water is used when running them, be sure to select the correct setting, so you’re not wasting water and electricity.
- Unplug cell phone chargers when not in use. They are pulling electricity even though there is nothing attached to the other end.
- Add curtains or blinds to the windows. Curtains and blinds will block drafts to help keep the room warm in the winter, and block the sun to keep it cool in the summer.
- Set your water heater at 120 degrees. Your water heater doesn’t have to work hard to heat the water to 120 degrees, and it is a safe temperature to avoid getting burned. Remember to turn it down even lower when you go on vacation.
- When it’s time to replace your electronics and appliances, look for the Energy Star label. The label ensures that the item you purchase will use less energy and help you save money on your utility bills.
Did you find these tips helpful? Which ones are you going to implement to start saving money on your utility bills?
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People should realize that they can enjoy significant savings on their utility bills by making some changes to their daily habits and routines. Although they may seem to be insignificant, these changes can go a long way in saving precious energy resources.